Why it's best: El Toro is one of the tallest, steepest and fastest wooden coasters in the world. At 76 degrees, the first drop is the second steepest wooden coaster drop in the world. But El Toro isn’t about stats -- it’s about a fast paced, out of control experience that is sure to thrill everyone. This coaster is very intense with some of the most powerful g-forces ever seen on a wooden coaster. El Toro’s steep drops literally launch riders off their seats and into the lap bars, and the “bucking bull finale” pins riders to their seats for several seconds. There’s almost no room for a breather between the huge hills that start the ride and the tight turns that complete the ride.
El Toro is as smooth as wooden coasters come. In fact, while most wooden coasters run on steel wheels and give a rather rough ride, this coaster’s design uses nylon wheels to keep the rattles to a minimum. El Toro is the complete package when it comes to wooden coasters with everything a thrill seeker is looking for.
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Why it's a best pick: Holiday World, included in our Best Small Theme Park list, has a collection of three great wooden coasters draw coaster lovers from all over, with The Voyage being the main draw. The parks original coaster, The Raven, is a small and quick run through the woods. Their next coaster was The Legend, with powerful turns and drops, also running through the woods. The Voyage ups the ante by combining the Raven’s quick pace and the power of the Legend, while adding some of the longest drops of any wooden coaster ever with three separate drops over 100 feet long! After the large hills, the mid section of the Voyage consists of tight, g-force filled turns. The ride seemingly shifts into another gear at its midsection, when riders are flung into a series of small drops and turns, snaking their way down a hillside and narrowly avoiding trees while gaining speed. The coaster finishes with another set of forceful turns, leaving riders breathless. The Voyage may indeed be better than our #1 coaster, El Toro, if it weren’t for the “too intense” and sometimes “rough” ride experience. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Why it's a best pick: Lake Compounce, also included in our Best Small Theme Park list, is the home Boulder Dash, a true winner. This wooden coaster is nestled between the lake and a rocky hillside, making for one of the most beautiful coasters ever. But don’t let the pristine setting fool you -- Boulder Dash is a fast paced, airtime-filled coaster with lots of quick hops and curves up and down the hillside. To begin, the coaster climbs the hillside and actually only ascends twenty feet higher than the ground below. From there, riders are dropped and twisted up and down the hillside while tracing a path along the lake. The first half of the ride is spent dodging rocks and trees while the second half is a straight run all the way back down the lakeside, with a seemingly endless series of short hills and bumps. Boulder Dash is sure to be a favorite for anyone that visits this small town park. The ride makes perfect use of the surrounding terrain, greatly enhancing the experience. If you do visit Lake Compounce, make sure to take the hour long trip north to ride the best steel roller coaster, Superman: Ride of Steel at Six Flags New England. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Why it's a best pick: This classic wooden coaster was saved from the wrecking ball when Dick Knoebel purchased the formerly run-down coaster at an auction in Texas, which marked the first large scale relocation of a wooden coaster. Once it was back up and running, fans and enthusiasts took serious note and the Phoenix quickly became an instant favorite for riders of all ages. This ride does not have extreme turns or huge drops, but it makes up for its lack of intensity with numerous amounts of well-timed hops that continuously throw riders up out of their seats. This coaster is lovingly cared for by the Knoebel family and receives track work every winter to ensure that it’ll remain in top notch condition and be there to excite riders for generations to come. The Phoenix is the only ticket-based coaster on our best list, meaning riders don’t need to pay any up-front admission to enter the park and ride. Knoebels Amusement Resort is a nice small town park found on our Best Small Theme Park list. See more reviews, photos, prices, and specs
Why it's a best pick: Thunderhead is one of the wildest coasters you’ll ever ride. The coaster is filled with steep drops, lightning quick turns and an intense set of directional changes that is sure to thrill. No other coaster on this list has such a tightly packed layout -- the ride crosses over itself more times than you can count! Just keep in mind that Thunderhead is not for the faint of heart and provides a rather intense ride, like many others on this list.
Situated in the Great Smoky Mountains, the hills of Dollywood are the perfect setting for this highly regarded wooden coaster. Thunderhead is well placed at the base of the mountains and the surrounding area is appropriately themed. Dollywood is a nice park that offers plenty of entertainment, authentic crafts, a family atmosphere, and thrill rides sure to please a variety of visitors.
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